Prince Rama Varma - Sri Chithira Thirunal Jayanthi - Abhogi Varnam

On a rainy day in October 2019, Prince Rama Varma, accompanied by Sri S.R.Vinu, Nanjil Sri Arul, Attingal Sri Madhu and Thirunakkara Sri Rethish, drenched the blessed music lovers at Sri Swathi Thirunal Sangeetha Sabha, Trivandrum during their patron's day celebrations.
Varma ji came up with a whole bunch of songs which he had never sung before and it was a joyful, three hour journey for all concerned.

The concert began with the very popular Varnam in Abhogi by Patnam Subramania Iyer on the God of Seshachalam, Sri Venkateshwara, whom the composer describes as "Seshachalendra Sri Venkatesha". Though I have heard this Varnam dozens of times, sung by various artists, this was the first time that I actually understood the lyrics, since people usually butcher them into something like "Jaavaa Moogaa Nannn Nela Raashesha, Chaalendra Sri Venkatesha" which probably doesn't have any meaning in any language.
I felt so happy to discover yet again, just how much, even a much rendered song like this can blossom with Varma ji's love and care.
After the song Varma ji gives information about the composer Subramania Iyer, who went to the Big City (Patnam) Chennai and became famous. In typical Varma ji style, he quips "These days, there are so many ways to become famous.....one could sing for films, one could do fusion or one could appear as a judge in reality shows on TV and make the contestants cry!" ;)